Politics

A discussion on the contested primary race for Iowa agriculture secretary and more on this Politics Day episode with political scientists Megan Goldberg and Jim McCormick.

During what may be her last Condition of the State, Gov. Kim Reynolds said our government needs to be reminded that "money doesn't grow on trees" as she eyes limits to municipal revenue growth. House Minority Leader Rep. Brian Meyer countered after her speech that Iowa is in a "fiscal death spiral" due to previous tax cuts. On this Politics Day edition of River to River, political analysts Dave Peterson and Jonathan Hassid help us dissect Iowa Republicans' legislative agenda, a growing number of independents and the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela has ignited debate across the country, not only over the action against Maduro, but more broadly over the President Donald Trump's foreign policy doctrine. Political scientists Kelly Shaw of Iowa State University and Sara Mitchell of the University of Iowa join the program to analyze the international fallout of Trump's foreign policy doctrine. Later in the hour, discussion on how the White House rewrites the history of Jan. 6, 2021 and Tim Walz decision to not run for a third term as governor of Minnesota.

In this episode of the 'Talk of Iowa' book club, author Sarah McCammon and expert readers discuss 'The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church.' The book is a blend of memoir and reporting, focusing on McCammon's life growing up in an evangelical church in Missouri and attending an evangelical college before parting ways with the church as a young adult. McCammon also writes about the experiences of other so-called "exvangelicals." (This episode was originally produced April 15, 2025.)

Policy experts say House Republicans’ health care plan — introduced by Iowa's 1st District Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks — makes "systemic changes," but it’s not clear how long it could take to bring costs down. The bill passed by the House on Wednesday includes provisions for cost-sharing payments, Association Health Plans and transparency in drug pricing.

We meet Henry Menniga, a remarkable young resident of Des Moines who was awarded the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award for his work promoting voter education and community service. Henry and his mom, Molly, talk about the start of his civic interests, a mock election when he was 4. Then, we talk with University of Iowa law scholar Josephine Gittler about why she drafted legislation that is now law, requiring Iowa high schoolers to pass the U.S. citizenship test. And, Iowa State University's Karen Kedrowski and Kelly Shaw discuss the new Center for Cyclone Civics. The center aims to increase civic education and engagement at the university level. (This episode was originally produced Aug. 4, 2025.)

A special election on Tuesday features two candidates from the same small town in northwest Iowa. The outcome could be an indicator of political sentiment in rural Iowa after recent contests in the state — and across the country — have favored Democratic candidates.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bret Stephens is known for his willingness to challenge both the left and the right.

Democrats running in the 2nd Congressional District are messaging on affordability and saying they hope to reverse the effects of policies enacted by the Trump administration.

Northeast Iowa farmer, musician and labor organizer Dave Bushaw jumped into the race for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. The 31-year-old is running as an independent and describes himself as a working-class, pro-labor candidate with deep ties to rural Iowa.